Five Reasons to Study a Masters of Education in Hong Kong

This article is sponsored by The Education University of Hong Kong. 

Whether you’re heading for a future career in education administration and management, or simply want to enrich your expertise as a teaching professional, a Masters of Education is the perfect way to deepen your knowledge and skillset.

For today’s internationally minded generation, studying a Masters of Education abroad means the chance to gain new insights from other cultures, while studying alongside an international cohort of education specialists. And where better than Hong Kong, as a location which combines expertise in the field of education studies with one of the world’s most dynamic and eclectic study environments?

To find out more about the hows and whys of pursuing a Masters of Education in Hong Kong, we spoke to Professor Allan Walker, Dean of the Faculty of Education and Human Development at The Education University of Hong Kong – currently ranked 12th in the world and 2nd in Asia in the field of education. Here are five of the most compelling reasons to follow this route…

 1. Boost your career in education

If you want to take your career in education to the next stage, a Masters of Education is an obvious next step – and could lead to some of the most inspiring and  potential-packed careers around. “Although demand ebbs and flows for careers in education, good teachers and school leaders will always be in high demand,” Walker says. “Working in education provides students with the opportunity to make a positive contribution to the lives of young people and to society in general – an opportunity not offered in many other professions.”

He adds, “Graduates go onto a number of roles in schools. These include principals, vice principals, curriculum leaders, special education coordinators and/or teachers. The courses prepare educational professionals for whichever career pathway they decide to pursue.”

2. Access education jobs in Hong Kong – and beyond

For over a quarter of a century, the Hong Kong economyhas enjoyed consistent growth.

With a growing economy, professionals from across the globe are seeking jobs in Hong Kong – and one of the best ways to prepare for a career in the city is by attending a local university. A Masters of Education can be a natural step toward pursuing an education-related job in Hong Kong.

Studying in Hong Kong “prepares you to teach in a range of schools,” Walker says, and could well maximize your chances of finding a relevantjob in Hong Kong following graduation. In addition, studying in Hong Kong is a great starting point from which to access jobs in many other countries – in both the East and the West.

As Walker explains, at The Education University of Hong Kong, “The range of specializations offered makes focused study with a solid general foundation most valuable. In many ways, Hong Kong remains the gateway to China and place where ideas flow from the East to the West, and vice versa.” 

3. Join an international community of education professionals

Hong Kong itself is well-known for its international character, and the same is true of its higher education system. At The Education University of Hong Kong, the number of students coming from outside of Hong Kong and mainland China is continually growing, with international graduates going on to work in both local schools and back in their native countries.

“One of our aims is to attract students from both the region and internationally,” Walker says. “In past years, many students have preferred to do their Masters with universities in the West, and we want to reverse this flow. With the increased global interest in Asian education systems – particularly in Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Shanghai – due to outstanding performance on international comparative exams such as PISA, we believe our program has much to offer.”

As a teacher himself, Walker also understands that the foundation for any successful program lies with its faculty, and he highlights the benefits of having staff members from across the world. “Our advantage comes from our international staff profile,” he says. “We have staff from South Korea, Taiwan, China, Russia, Canada, Singapore, Australia, the US and the UK – each bringing their own strengths and working synergistically to build the strength of the program.” He adds that the university’s “exciting and relevant courses” are developed in collaboration with a selection of “bright young teachers”, many of whom have themselves studied internationally.

4. Benefit from years of expertise in the education field

The only university dedicated to teacher education, The Education University of Hong Kong traces its founding to 1853. Offering some 330 academic experts to support research and scholarly activities in education, the Institute “is interesting, inspiring and stimulating”, says recent Masters of Education graduate Ewana Chau. She explains that the program “combines theories and practices which could be applied in my daily work.”

Chau is currently a kindergarten principal. Her fast career progression is not unusual, Walker believes, because “Our program emphasizes the application of theoretical knowledge to the fundamental issues and problems of practice. As such, graduating students not only have solid theoretical knowledge but also understand how this can be applied for positive change in classroom and schools.” 

The Education University of Hong Kong offers a wide variety of specializations and courses, including an MEd program which helps prepare students for future career paths in a specific field. Areas of focus include Business Education and Human Resources Development; Early Childhood Education; and Mathematics, Technology, Science and Environment. Walker sums up the university’s key strengths: “a great range of specializations and courses; committed, highly qualified academics as teachers; deep knowledge of education in Hong Kong and across East and Southeast Asia; and a growing presence in online and blended learning.”

5. Enjoy immersion in Hong Kong’s unique culture

When students aren’t studying, it’s nice to be situated somewhere with a diverse range of diversions!Hong Kong cultureis so varied that in 2007 the city began working on a list of items of “intangible cultural heritage”. Seven years later, according to an article in the South China Morning Post, the list had grown to some 480 items including: “Cantonese opera, egg tarts, pineapple buns, umbrella making, Hakka folk songs, the making of snake wine and kung fu.”

While it may be difficult to experience all 480 items alongside your Masters of Education, students should certainly make time to explore the local vicinity, perhaps starting with a cruise along Victoria Harbor and the waters between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. Touring nearby Lantau Island offers a chance to visit the Giant Buddha Exhibition Hall, while strolling on the city’s Avenue of the Stars lets visitors enjoy everything from commemorative plaques, celebrity handprints, descriptive milestones, movie memorabilia, and a life-size statue of kung fu action hero Bruce Lee.

For those hoping to get a different perspective of Victoria Harbor, the 60-meter Observation Wheel offers 42 gondolas, each with seating for eight. The gondolas are even equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi, in case you want to surf the web while suspended high above the island. Just a short taste of the wide range of entertainments and experiences that you really only will find here in Hong Kong!

Before he taught students how to teach, Professor Allan Walker was himself a teacher. In his home country of Australia, he began his professional career as a teacher before becoming a principal. After completing his doctorate at the University of Illinois in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, he shifted to academia. Following a stint at the National Institute of Education in Singapore, in 1994, he moved to Hong Kong. For the next 15 years, Walker taught at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, earning the Chair Professor of Educational Administration and Policy. He says he joined the faculty at The Education University of Hong Kong in 2010 because he was “attracted by the vision of the president and the challenge of being part of the university, moving towards the transformation into a new university – I felt I could make a very contribution to this.”